Authorities have reopened roads linking Pakistan’s capital with the rest of the country, ending a four-day lockdown, after using tear gas and firing into the air to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who demanded his release from prison.

Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said a “massacre” unfolded in Pakistan and the armed forces fired live rounds, killing “hundreds of people” and many injured with gunshot wounds. It did not give a number as to how many were killed.

Thousands of people are in the heart of Pakistan’s capital to demand the release of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan.

Pakistan's capital Islamabad was gripped by violence on Tuesday as protesters demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces near the parliament.

Supporters seeking the release of imprisoned Pakistani former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday broke through a ring of shipping containers locking down the capital Islamabad, battled police, and ignored a government threat to respond with gunfire.

The party of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan suspended street protests seeking his release, it said on Wednesday, following media reports of hundreds of arrests by security forces in a sweeping midnight raid in the capital.

Authorities have reopened roads linking Pakistan’s capital with the rest of the country, ending a four-day lockdown.

Pakistan home ministry said despite the Islamabad high court's ordering PTI to hold a protest at Sangjani, the party “unlawfully” entered the Islamabad Red Zone

The written judgement, delivered by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, highlighted strong evidence from the prosecution, including audio and video recordings that implicated Imran Khan in inciting violence.